!!!!FOR NIKON USERS READ BELOW!!!!
The most compact gimbal on the market for cameras up to 3 kilograms. Without having used any other gimbal and having had this one in my possession for the last 3 months, I have the following to say.
It is sturdy in terms of equipment weight. Tested with a camera, lens, and filters weighing 2.2 kilograms, I had the motor set to its medium setting and it worked even on the low setting without any problems.
It does the job it is intended for and more. Very smooth in videography without any vibrations, even while running (watch videos on YouTube to get a better idea).
Build quality, perhaps its weak point, but this only applies to the location of the buttons, where it could have been more refined. Otherwise, it has a very sturdy metal construction that seems to withstand the test of time.
The battery has incredible endurance, even with heavy equipment, it lasts for hours. Speaking for myself, my hands get tired first to the point where I can't handle it anymore, and the battery is still halfway charged.
Now, the most important part. Compatibility with NIKON DSLRs specifically for d750 and d5200, based on my experience and information found on the internet.
For video, yes, it functions as a gimbal, but there is absolutely no compatibility (as stated by the company) unless you follow these instructions. By purchasing the additional accessory cmf-04 servo follow focus mechanism for about 100 euros (brand new), you can solve the known focusing issue on all Nikon DSLR cameras except for d850 and d780. And now comes the best part regarding camera control. By connecting your mobile phone and camera with an OTG cable and the Nikon cable, and downloading the amazing qdslrdashboard app (around 10 euros), you have the perfect combination for videography. Your mobile phone becomes an automatic external monitor with all camera controls available, and the best part is the focus peak screen and histogram (if you were to buy them separately, it would cost over 200 euros). Focusing becomes easy with a little practice and the right settings on the gimbal.
And now let's talk about compatibility for photos. For this specific aspect, I haven't found any references on the internet, and I managed to achieve it through my own experiments. By downloading the official zy play app from Zhiyun and connecting the camera to the gimbal again with an OTG cable, the compatibility becomes complete for fantastic panoramas and timelapse videos.
Some of the lenses that I managed to balance without any issues with the d750, just to name a few:
Sigma 14 f2.8
Sigma 20 f1.8
Sigma 28 f1.8
Nikon 35 f2
Nikon 50 f1.4 non-AIS
Nikon 60 2.8 micro
Nikon 85 1.4d
Nikon 85 f2.8 pc
Nikon 105 f2.8 micro
Nikon 135 f2 dc
Nikon 35-70 f2.8 (be careful with the zoom)
All of these in combination with large square filters measuring 125mm.
With the use of counterweights:
Nikon 28-70 2.8
Nikon 180 2.8 with limited movement
Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR with limited movement
The d5200 required counterweights or a battery grip for some of these lenses.
UPDATE 19/6/2021
After 1 year of use, I will add a few more comments about this stabilizer.
For those considering ease of use, yes, the gimbal takes quite some time to set up. Personally, it takes me 10 to 15 minutes to prepare it for videography, including setting up the follow focus, which takes about 5-7 minutes on its own.
Zhiyun continues to support with updates and there are video reviews for each one separately by Peter Makholm on YouTube. Keep the firmware files stored on your computer because Zhiyun does not have an archive for older ones if needed, but you can find them on Peter Makholm's website with a small donation.
If you need to prepare it before shooting, it cannot be stored in its box but can be stored in another case without any problem. Simply remove the camera from the front button (release button), put all the arms in the storage position, and lock them with the red buttons (locks). Then, when you open it again, it will be ready and balanced.
The gimbal performs better in stability with an extra grip or even better with two if you don't use the central control buttons. It doesn't have to be the original one, there are various options available in the market.
The screws provided in the package to attach the camera to the base are difficult to use and require a screwdriver or a coin to tighten. Replace them with 1/4'' d-ring screws (google it)
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